Archive - January, 2010

Homosexual conduct undermines security and military discipline

By 28 January 2010. Filed in Ethics.

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Our military faces the threat of compromised security, increased friction in personal and professional relationships, and poor discipline. This threat looms not from the figure of an enemy in a foreign nation, but its shadow is cast by some of our country’s own citizens. This threat comes from the possible legal authorization and permissiveness of homosexual activity within the ranks. Some within our nation would prefer to accommodate the immoral and indecent actions of a few to the detriment of our servicemembers and the safety of our citizenry.

Homosexual conduct contradicts the laws of nature and of nature’s God. It, like other aberrant forms of sexuality, condones unbridled passions that lead to mistrust, failed relationships, the spread of disease, lack of discipline, and other irresponsible personal behavior. Men can only thrive under liberty ordered by moral law. The moral law of Western civilization clearly tells us that sexual immorality is offensive to God, to our fellow man, and repugnant to the survival of our culture.

Before we lay aside the longstanding laws and policies of our nation, we should take a long, hard look at the reasons that such laws and policies were codified. Every culture known to man has affirmed the intrinsic value of sex within heterosexual marriage. In fact, history has proven, time and again, that a society that approves of immorality and sexual permissiveness is doomed to failure—perhaps slow and treacherous failure, but failure to be sure.

At this moment, leaders in the White House, the United States Congress, and the military are considering repealing the law that prohibits homosexual conduct in our military. We face one of the most critical decisions affecting the good order and discipline of our nation’s military and its military readiness. Will our elected and appointed officials make the right decision? I encourage all citizens of the United States to contact their Congressional representatives and other government leaders about this matter. We cannot afford to have a military in which discipline and national security are compromised by authorized homosexual activity.

[The views expressed herein are my own and are not those of the Department of Defense.]

Obama’s Call to Abolish ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ Seen As Politically Risky

By 28 January 2010. Filed in News & Commentary.

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President Barack Obama’s call to scrap the “Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell” rule barring homosexuals from military service will be difficult, both politically and legally, a military advocacy group said on Wednesday.

Obama announced his desire to allow homosexuals to serve openly in the military during his first State of the Union address Wednesday night.

“This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are,” Obama said.

READ MORE from CNSNews.com

Face of Defense: Future Army Chaplain Answers Call to Serve

By 28 January 2010. Filed in Chaplain Candidates.

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WASHINGTON – Army Reserve 2nd Lt. Alec Scott felt a higher calling at a young age that led him not only down a military path, but down a religious one as well.

Scott is studying to be a Catholic priest at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., while also preparing for a career as an Army chaplain.

“I started considering the priesthood in high school,” he said. “The more I considered it, the more I was convinced it was where I was being called to serve.”

Scott said he also felt a strong draw toward the Army, a result of his family’s deep military roots. His father, retired Maj. Gen. Bruce Scott, and grandfathers served in the Army, and his five siblings all followed in their father’s military footsteps. Four are serving in the Army and one is in the Air Force.

READ MORE from DVIDS

Chaplain Lt. Col. John Laing

By 27 January 2010. Filed in News & Commentary.

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Baptists and many other Protestant groups often “recoil” from sacred art and iconography, because they fear its idolatrous potential and because they tend to focus pragmatically on function over form, says John D. Laing, a chaplain with the U.S. Army’s 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, currently stationed in Iraq, and assistant professor of systematic theology and philosophy at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Houston campus.

“Many Protestants from the conservative, fundamentalist and evangelical traditions have historically had a robust skepticism regarding the use of art in worship, because they see it as facilitating sacramental theology and tending towards idolatry,” says Laing, who is author of the recent book In Jesus’ Name: Evangelicals and Military Chaplaincy.

READ MORE from Houston Belief

Chaplains seek to better soldiers’ souls

By 27 January 2010. Filed in News & Commentary.

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FORT HOOD – About 30 Army chaplains and some local congregation leaders met at the Spiritual Fitness Center Friday to discuss how to keep soldiers’ souls fit.

The group addressed three questions: What is the definition of spiritual fitness; what are the key components in spiritual fitness training; and what are the critical elements in a spiritual fitness center?

After deliberating the questions, the group presented their findings to Maj. Gen. Douglas L. Carver, the Army’s 22nd chief of chaplains.

“I am excited to hear what we have accomplished,” Carver said. “We’ve got to keep our soldiers strong physically, mentally, in the family, emotionally and spiritually.”

READ MORE from Killeen Daily Herald

Looking After Matters of The Spirit For FOB Marez Soldiers

By 27 January 2010. Filed in Deployment.

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FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq – While U.S. Soldiers concentrate on training Iraqi Security Forces to provide a safe and secure environment for themselves, one Richmond, Va., resident is just as busy, providing a welcome respite for matters of the spirit.

Chaplain (Maj.) Sid A. Taylor, a 15-year Army veteran, is a National Baptist minister and U.S. Army chaplain. As the chaplain for 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, it’s his responsibility to meet the spiritual needs of more than 4,000 Soldiers serving throughout Iraq’s Ninewa Province.

“Here in the brigade, chaplains are like crazy glue,” Chap. Taylor said with a smile, “They’re spread thin, but they secretly hold the organization together.”

READ MORE from News Blaze

Educational Requirements for Chaplain Candidates

By 26 January 2010. Filed in Chaplain Candidates.

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Chaplain candidates recently received an email stating educational requirements for the Chaplain Candidate program are changing. Many Chaplain Candidates have found themselves working towards a degree which will not fulfill the requirements of the military. Previously, someone with a 60 hour degree plus 12 more hours in theological studies was qualified for the military chaplaincy. Another options was to have a 36 hour degree plus an additional 36 hour degree to be eligible for the military chaplaincy. According to new guidelines, this is not the case anymore. The military now requires candidates to be working towards a minimum of a 72 hour degree, Master of Divinity (typically 90 hours) also fulfills the requirements.

I felt this information would be beneficial for someone seeking to serve as a military chaplain. If you are in the early stages of your degree and have already been working with a recruiter, it would be in your best interest to verify the degree you are currently working towards will fulfill military requirements since the requirements have recently changed. God bless you in your pursuit to serve God and your country.

Chaplain Candidate Appointment Process

By 24 January 2010. Filed in Chaplain Candidates.

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Perhaps one of the most difficult steps of becoming a Chaplain or Chaplain Candidate is finding a recruiter to speak to face to face. Not because recruiters do not want to talk to you or give you information, recruiters typically go out of their way to get you information you need, but because the typical recruiter in your hometown is set up to recruit enlisted personnel. Not only are you asking the recruiter about becoming an officer, you are asking about becoming a Chaplain. Some of you who live in larger cities may have an actual officers recruiting office, this may make things a little easier for you, but the reality is they do not send many Chaplains through. You may experience some slight delays as the recruiter searches to put you in contact with the right individuals. Rest assured, these men and women are professionals at what they do and they will get you the information you need and put you in contact with a Chaplain recruiter.

Once you have been contacted by a recruiter, he or she will send you information packets usually through email and regular mail. One of the first things you will be asked to submit is a pre-screen questionnaire. This allows the military to find out basic information about you such as your age, height and weight, whether you are ordained, your faith group, educational history, prior or non-prior service, and medical history. This information will allow the Army to pre-determine if you are potentially eligible to serve in the military. Once you return this questionnaire, the recruiting team will begin the application process. If everything looks good on your questionnaire, you will receive notification from a member of the recruiting team, and they will send you a FedEx package with the forms needed to begin the application process.

The packet you receive is an application you will need to complete. Other items you will need to include in this packet before returning it to the recruiting team is a short essay (one page) on why you want to serve as a Chaplain, previous work experience (ministry), questionnaire for national security clearance, and a full length photo of yourself. Clear instructions will be provided as to how to complete this packet. You can have all of this information complete within a day. Once you sent it back, the recruiter will request a copy of your academic transcript. You need to be enrolled in graduate school to be accepted as a Chaplain Candidate (or a graduate of graduate school to be accepted as a Chaplain). Once you have completed this step, you will need to begin working on receiving your endorsement from your denominational endorser.

This step of the process will most likely vary depending on the endorsing body. I can tell you, based on my experience, this is a somewhat lengthy process. The recruiter will provide you with the name and a contact at your endorsing body. Once you contact the endorser, they will provide you with the instructions to begin the application for endorsement process. In my case, I was able to log on to my endorser’s website and complete the application electronically. This required writing several paragraphs which clarified my beliefs. Once you complete the application, you will most likely have to be interviewed by your endorsing body. In my case, a phone interview took place; active duty may require an in-person interview. This process can take 1 week to 6 months to complete, depending on the endorsing body.

So now you have been endorsed by your endorsing body. You can begin the actual military application process now. Your recruiter will send you a medical pre-screen questionnaire. Complete this as soon as possible, and get it back to your recruiter so he can schedule your military physical. Your recruiter will set you up an appointment at your local MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) for your physical. Plan on being there early and remaining there most of the day. It is nothing difficult, just usually a lot of waiting. Once you complete/pass your physical, MEPS will forward your results to your recruiter. Your application is now complete and will be verified for completion of all required items.

Your recruiter will let you know when the Accession Board will meet to review applications. The Accession Board will meet and review your application. If you are accepted, your recruiter will call you to notify you and congratulate you. Typically you will receive your Oath of Office 30 -60 days following the board. Once you execute your oath, you will be a commissioned officer. This wraps up the appointment process. Next you will be contacted by the Chaplain Candidate Manager who will assist you in setting up training and getting you assigned to a unit.

“Raiders” deliver hope, goods to Springs homeless

By 19 January 2010. Filed in News & Commentary.

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FORT CARSON, Colo.—Reaching to adjust the straps on his rucksack, the Soldier’s attention is drawn to the tree line. A single, small tent rests between the trees and beside it, the white smoke of a camp fire drifts up and around the weathered hands of a homeless man. Looking to the Soldier the homeless man quickly grabs something from his tent.

As the man unfolds the object he has retrieved, 13 red and white stripes and 50 bright stars are visible. He carefully hangs the U.S. flag from a tree branch next to his tent, then stands back and snaps a sharp salute to the Soldier, who returns the salute and continues his foot march.

Nearly 300 Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division marched in “Operation: Happy Christmas” to bring camping supplies and warm weather gear to the homeless of Colorado Springs Dec. 18.

The idea for the operation originated with the 1st BCT Chaplain Maj. Charlie Lee, said Staff Sgt. Darrell Cortez, chaplain assistant, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

READ MORE from Fresh Ink

Report Details Army Failures on Hasan

By 16 January 2010. Filed in News & Commentary.

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A Pentagon review panel urged the military to consider penalizing several officers for failing to adequately supervise Maj. Nidal Hasan, the Army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 people in a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, last fall.

The review also concluded that the military didn’t devote sufficient attention to the problem of soldiers who adopt radical religious or political views. The military’s defenses are aimed at threats from external enemies, such as foreign intelligence services, the review said.

“It is clear that as a department, we have not done enough to adapt to the evolving domestic internal-security threat to American troops and military facilities that has emerged over the past decade,” Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters Friday. “In this area, as in so many others, this department is burdened by 20th century processes and attitudes, mostly rooted in the Cold War.”

READ MORE from The Wall Street Journal

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